Shell Optimax Extreme 100ron

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The other thing with the ignition timing, I read somewhere that ethanol actually burns faster than petrol due to it not being in great long chains like high octane petrol, so in theory this would mean you actually have to retard the timing a bit anyway for the same amount of fuel would it not?

hrmm I was under the impression ethanol was a slower burning fuel. Due to its oxygen content it also has a more complete burn.

Due to its higher RON its able to handle a little more ignition timing that gets us closer to the minimum best torque ign timing that us with turbo's are never really able to get close to. Again, using more of the fuel in the combustion chamber that essentially translates to increased torque/power.

I haven't actually done any reading up on ethanol fuels.. I might do so now so I'm not talking crap.

[sky30]

As joel said, im sure it burns more complete,and can handle more ign timing.

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http://www.sdi.qld.gov.au/dsdweb/v3/docume...%20E10%20afr%22

Some of the pics towards the end are a tad scary.

[THENIG]

My two cents....

Optimax Extreme is a SCAM!, 18-20c more a litre over regular unleaded at my local shell.

FACT: Ethanol doesn't attract the same excise and taxes as per crude based fuels, when 'blended' in the the refinery therefore should make the fuel cheaper. When servo owners making bout 1.9c per litre and ethanol technically being cheaper 2 produce, where does the 20c per litre go?? Hmmm.... Radio campaigns?

As for normal optimax having 10c premium over regular unleaded, its just an additive pack pumped into the tanker at the refinery as its being filled with regular unleaded. And what explanation was there for optimax 2 jump from 7-8c per litre over reg. to 10c per litre?? I don't know??? 6 months later, lookey, lookey, 95RON fuel sold at shell slotted exactly half way price wise btw reg. and Optimax... SCAAAM!!

Also... i remember the hype when this 100RON ethonal blend was released with some exceptions 2 what cars it is compatible with. I remember reading somewhere that Pre 96' Nissans (oz delivered) not liking ethonal. ie. Since my 32 may share some materials and manufacturing techniques with a oz delivered nissans, does this mean that it would be unwise 2 experiment with 100RON ethanol blended fuel in my car until the fuel lines harden, crack and burst with prolonged use?? Mayb im just being over cautious on my 15yo car..?

One more cent...

If ppl aren't noticing any change in their cars performance wise or pinging when using higher octane fuels or additives, would resetting your factory (if applicable)ECU help?? ie. letting it learn 2 run of what it was probably fueled up with in japan..

I've always gone with the motto: Always fill up with your 'niche' fuels at servos that have high turnover, ethanol (mayb all fuels) are great absorber of moisture which may collect in underground tanks over time, not sure as 2 how significant this may be in the real world but im pretty sure pre-flight checks on light aircraft involve checking all the tanks for condensation before flight, ref. TOP GEAR, Car vs Plane. great episode that one.. I'll shut up now..

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This thread isn't about the price of the fuel its about the performance of it.

But anyway.... I'll walk up with my coles fuel discount docket in hand every time I fill up.

Boost98 appears to perform better than PULP 98 yet it is a few cents cheaper.

does this mean that it would be unwise 2 experiment with 100RON ethanol blended fuel in my car until the fuel lines harden, crack and burst with prolonged use?? Mayb im just being over cautious on my 15yo car..?

I would hope that by now all of your fuel lines etc would have been replaced. Mine have. Why? Mine began to crack quite badly due to age.

If ppl aren't noticing any change in their cars performance wise or pinging when using higher octane fuels or additives, would resetting your factory (if applicable)ECU help?? ie. letting it learn 2 run of what it was probably fueled up with in japan..

The Nissan ecu's of this era are not this smart. They don't remember where (load/rpm) the car has previously pinged. They work on a basis of it it pings under 4500rpm (from memory) instantly pull some timing, then forget about it.

As already stated, this and fuel like it requires a tune to suite, running it in your stock ecu'd mildly boosted rb isn't going to do much at all. My self, I run a PFC.

ethanol (mayb all fuels) are great absorber of moisture which may collect in underground tanks over time, not sure as 2 how significant this may be in the real world

This may also be why Shell are upgrading the servo prior to the use of this fuel. But that is speculation on my behalf.

[EnricoPalazzo]

Whats more important is, as the optimax has 5% ethanol blend as does boost98, will it have the same effects in that it will lean afrs 0.5-1pt (from martins research)?

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Whats more important is, as the optimax has 5% ethanol blend as does boost98, will it have the same effects in that it will lean afrs 0.5-1pt (from martins research)?

I'd think its safe to say the optimax extreme containing the lesser ethanol will only slightly affect afr's.

[J_Red33]

Yeah don't like the look of that hyundai on %20 ethanol, but 5% sounds pretty safe. I'll be sticking with ulitimate 98 for now at least, no PFC, no point. As for the oxygen content of the ethanol, wouldn't it burn faster if the oxygen was already there with it? Is anyone a chemistry specialist here?? lol

Edited September 4, 2006 by JazzaR33

[Madaz]

Yeah don't like the look of that hyundai on %20 ethanol, but 5% sounds pretty safe. I'll be sticking with ulitimate 98 for now at least, no PFC, no point. As for the oxygen content of the ethanol, wouldn't it burn faster if the oxygen was already there with it? Is anyone a chemistry specialist here?? lol

yeah that hyundai looks scary

me too i got no PFC so im with Premium

[Busky2k]

Damn I knew that I read that ethanol blends can cause some serious deposits on the valves/head. Apparently the detergent package has to be very specific in order to keep them clean and its likely not every E10 blend will be good enough to ward out the deposits. I guess for those who do many km's per year should rethink about ethanol blends. For a bunga, who cares! Its good for them with the reduction in emmissions!

Oh yeah Cubes the 044 I have is dead quiet so I can't comment if the Boost98 makes it louder. My old 040 was crazy loud no matter what fuel it was running.

As for the enleanment 9kprm, I haven't really had a look. The PowerFC closed loop function is able to compensate for the E10 on cruise/idle but its kind of hard to use full throttle with my car whilst holding the LM-1 with my left hand and looking at the AFR. I'll have to get the logging properly set up and I'll post my results later on!

JazzaR33, oxygenated fuels doesn't mean that it'll burn faster or produce more power. Remember some of that oxygen in the fuel is displacing fuel that could be used so thats why enleanment occurs. I do not believe the oxygen in the fuel converts to O2 as such like in the air we have, but rather is an incompletely combusted compound (-OH) so its not the same.

[9krpm]

those deposits on the valves looks nasty and I do a lot of km up here in QLD

what is/are the actual cause of that? Is there any way of cleaning that?

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I was thinking about that report. It seems a little funny to myself as there's no mention of anti-corrosion additives etc..